Important update from G&B, High Court ruling on cat fouling, new Victims’ Code consultation and upcoming courses
In this week’s edition:
- Important update from G&B
- High Court ruling on cat fouling and statutory nuisance
- Victims Evidence and Insights Pack 2026
- Consultation on a new Victims’ Code
- Upcoming training courses
- Weekly round up
Important Update From G&B ASB Associates
We wanted to share a brief update regarding G&B ASB Associates.
At the end of this month, partner Darren Burton will be moving on from the business to pursue other opportunities. We wish him well in his future endeavours and know that our paths will invariably pass again in the sector.
Remaining partner Janine Green will continue to lead the organisation, delivering the same specialist ASB and community safety expertise our clients and partners know us for.
Our work, values and commitment to the sector remain unchanged, and it is very much business as usual. You will see a slight change to our branding and comms being introduced in the next week to reflect the change, however our commitment to serving you with relevant training and consultancy services remains constant.
Thank you to everyone who continues to work with and support us.
High Court: Council Must Reconsider Cat Fouling Complaint
A recent High Court decision has important implications for how local authorities approach statutory nuisance complaints involving animals.
In Williamson v Caerphilly County Borough Council, the claimant complained that his neighbour’s cats were repeatedly fouling in his garden, raising concerns about health risks including toxoplasmosis.
The council approached the complaint under section 79(1)(f) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, focusing on whether the animals were kept in such a manner as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance. It concluded the matter did not amount to a statutory nuisance and suggested civil action instead.
The High Court found that the council had approached the complaint incorrectly. The judge held that the complaint should have been considered under section 79(1)(e), relating to any accumulation or deposit which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance. The court rejected a narrow interpretation of “any deposit” and made clear that cat faeces were capable of being prejudicial to health.
The determination was quashed and must now be reconsidered.
For environmental health, housing and ASB practitioners, the judgment reinforces several points:
- The importance of properly identifying the correct statutory basis for investigation
- The need to focus on the substance of a complaint, not just the way it is framed
- The risk of overly restrictive interpretations of statutory wording
- The continuing relevance of health considerations in nuisance cases
This case is likely to prompt renewed attention to how similar complaints are assessed and recorded.
Victims Evidence And Insights Pack 2026
The Youth Justice Board has published its Victims Evidence and Insights Pack 2026, bringing together national evidence on child victimisation and its relationship with later offending.
One of the most striking findings is that 61% of children who come into contact with the youth justice system have previously been victims of crime. Yet those experiences are often overlooked as children age or as vulnerabilities overlap.
The evidence highlights:
- A strong link between victimisation, fear and harm, and later involvement in offending, including serious violence
- The influence of poverty, care experience and exposure to violence
- Growing risks linked to online harms and digital exploitation
- Gaps in advocacy, trauma-informed support and mental health provision
Encouragingly, the pack also identifies promising approaches, including:
- Targeted support in hospital A&E departments
- Trauma counselling
- Specialist advocacy in sexual violence and domestic abuse
- Restorative work to help children understand what has happened to them
- Positive, consistent relationships with trusted adults
For community safety and ASB professionals, this reinforces the need to view behaviour in context. Early identification, joined-up working and trauma-informed responses remain central to preventing escalation and long-term harm.
Consultation On A New Victims’ Code
The Ministry of Justice has published a consultation on a new Victims’ Code.
The consultation follows the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and proposes updates to strengthen how victims are informed, supported and involved throughout the criminal justice process.
Key areas under consultation include:
- Clearer and more consistent needs assessments at defined stages of a case
- A structured framework for engaging directly with child victims
- Improving the quality and timeliness of communication
- Formalising when victims are offered the opportunity to make a Victim Impact Statement
- Greater clarity around participation in parole and post-sentence processes
- Strengthening awareness and accessibility of the Code
The consultation also reflects wider legislative change around data disclosure, non-disclosure agreements and post-conviction communication.
For those working in ASB, community safety and housing, this is particularly relevant. Victims of criminal anti social behaviour fall within scope, and the emphasis on communication, needs assessment and trauma-informed practice aligns closely with current regulatory and ombudsman expectations.
The consultation is open until 30 April 2026.
Upcoming Open Access Training
Our current Q1 open access calendar is drawing to a close, with one remaining session available before we announce the next round of dates.
Applying Judge Craft
11 March 2026
Online
This session focuses on professional judgement, defensible decision making and how reasoning stands up to scrutiny in complex ASB cases. It is designed for practitioners operating in environments where thresholds, proportionality and recording are increasingly examined.
Further dates and additional programmes will be announced shortly.
Weekly round up
This week’s developments touch on three areas that matter directly to ASB and community safety practice: statutory interpretation, victim vulnerability and how criminal justice agencies communicate and engage.
The High Court ruling is a reminder that complaints must be approached on their substance and assessed under the correct statutory framework. The Youth Justice Board evidence reinforces the link between victimisation and later harm. The consultation on the Victims’ Code places renewed emphasis on needs assessments, participation and trauma-informed communication.
None of this is theoretical. It speaks to everyday decisions about thresholds, recording, partnership working and how cases are progressed.
We will continue to highlight developments that have practical relevance for practitioners. If any of this raises questions for your service, we are always happy to have a conversation.
Have a great week,
Team G&B